Published: Sunday, March 16, 2014 at 4:39 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, March 16, 2014 at 4:39 p.m.

The former Hendersonville basketball standout graduated high school in 2006. She played basketball at the next level at Coldwell Community College.

Seven years later, Waddell is reaching for her ultimate dream in April when she goes through two different tryouts to play professional basketball.

Waddell, 25, is trying out for the WNBA and other overseas professional teams at the ProHoops Combine on April 5 and 6 in Tennessee. She’ll follow that up with a Miami tryout for the WNBA’s D League.

The journey down the path she’s wanted to follow since she picked up a basketball began in 2012. She emailed multiple WNBA teams about the possibility of open tryouts. Coaches in Atlanta pointed her towards tryouts in New Orleans.

Desperate to fulfill her dream of playing professional basketball, Waddell didn’t pass up the opportunity.

It didn’t go as planned.

She had no clue what to expect and wasn’t prepared.

“It didn’t go so well,” she said. “I was nervous.”

Since she left the courts in Louisiana last year, every step has been preparation for the tryouts this season. She doesn’t want to be denied.

Her initial foray into post-high school basketball was interrupted in 2009. While at Caldwell, she got pregnant and withdrew from school with the intentions of enrolling again the following year after the birth of her daughter, Tyleah.

In 2010, however, her grandmother, Annie Pearl Brown, died. Her grandmother was one of the most influential people in Waddell’s life. The loss rocked her world and the inability to return to school hurt.

“I felt like school was the only way I could make it,” she said.

She didn’t go back to Caldwell.

She did, however, end up getting a degree in medical office and billing specialist.

The itch to play basketball won’t go away though. It’s her dream.

It was also her grandmother’s dream for her and that knowledge is pushing her forward.

<p>Interrupted dreams are something that Robin Waddell knows a little bit about. </p><p>The former Hendersonville basketball standout graduated high school in 2006. She played basketball at the next level at Coldwell Community College. </p><p>Seven years later, Waddell is reaching for her ultimate dream in April when she goes through two different tryouts to play professional basketball. </p><p>Waddell, 25, is trying out for the WNBA and other overseas professional teams at the ProHoops Combine on April 5 and 6 in Tennessee. She'll follow that up with a Miami tryout for the WNBA's D League. </p><p>The journey down the path she's wanted to follow since she picked up a basketball began in 2012. She emailed multiple WNBA teams about the possibility of open tryouts. Coaches in Atlanta pointed her towards tryouts in New Orleans. </p><p>Desperate to fulfill her dream of playing professional basketball, Waddell didn't pass up the opportunity. </p><p>It didn't go as planned.</p><p>She had no clue what to expect and wasn't prepared.</p><p>“It didn't go so well,” she said. “I was nervous.”</p><p>Since she left the courts in Louisiana last year, every step has been preparation for the tryouts this season. She doesn't want to be denied.</p><p>Her initial foray into post-high school basketball was interrupted in 2009. While at Caldwell, she got pregnant and withdrew from school with the intentions of enrolling again the following year after the birth of her daughter, Tyleah.</p><p>In 2010, however, her grandmother, Annie Pearl Brown, died. Her grandmother was one of the most influential people in Waddell's life. The loss rocked her world and the inability to return to school hurt.</p><p>“I felt like school was the only way I could make it,” she said. </p><p>She didn't go back to Caldwell. </p><p>She did, however, end up getting a degree in medical office and billing specialist. </p><p>The itch to play basketball won't go away though. It's her dream.</p><p>It was also her grandmother's dream for her and that knowledge is pushing her forward.</p><p>“It makes me more motivated,” Waddell said. “She never wanted me to give up.”</p><p>She's spent the last year working on dribbling, shooting and hitting the gym. This tryout will be different, Waddell said.</p><p>“Last year, I wasn't really prepared,” she said. “I know what to expect now.”</p><p>And if she can make her dreams come true, it'd send a message to others, Waddell said.</p><p>“I feel like it would let people know to not give up on their dreams,” she said.</p><p>And all Waddell wants to do is play basketball.</p>